In the last few days, we have been meditating on hearing God’s voice and being led and guided by the Spirit of God. Today I want to look at things that can hinder the flow of God’s power to work in believers in Christ. Billy Graham once said, “No alcoholic was ever more in bondage to his habit of drink than many Christians are to their habit of doubting. Many Christians have settled down under their doubts as though they have contracted an incurable disease.” As rubber tires stop electricity from grounding and keeps an individual safe in a car during a lightning storm, doubt will hinder the flow of God's power in you and through you. When Jesus taught in his hometown of Nazareth, He could not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith (Matthew 13:58). Matthew recorded that this was the problem of the nine from healing the man's son (Matthew 17:20). Begin to trust God by taking small steps of faith. Pray specific prayers to overcome doubt and unbelief. Seek the Lord daily in prayer and Bible reading to cast out your doubts.
Another thing that hinders the work of the Holy Spirit in us is listening and agreeing with our spiritual enemy, the devil. The enemy whispers in some ears that their heart has become so hardened against God that they have committed the unpardonable sin and blasphemed the Holy Spirit. The context where Jesus speaks about blasphemy against the Spirit is towards those accusing Him of driving out demons by the power of Satan (Matthew 12:24). The men accusing Jesus were resistant to the work of the Spirit of God in their town and their lives.
31And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come (Matt 12:31-32).
Billy Graham has this to say about this passage of scripture:
"Perhaps I can venture a definition of what I understand the unpardonable sin to be. It seems to me, negatively, that no one has committed this sin who continues to be under the disturbing, convicting, and drawing power of the Holy Spirit. So long as the Spirit strives with a person, he has not committed the unpardonable sin. But when a person has so resisted that He strives with him no more, then there is an eternal danger. In other words, the unpardonable sin involves the total and irrevocable rejection of Jesus Christ."[1]
The unpardonable sin is to refuse and resist the Spirit's ministry to convict us of sin and point us to the answer for sin, the work of Christ in His substitutionary death in our place on the cross. Over the years, I have learned that the enemy doesn’t give me a hard time when I am not walking with the Lord. He doesn't bother me when I am out of fellowship with God and other believers. When I am spiritually asleep, I am no threat to him. When I am advancing in the Kingdom of God and seeking to live a righteous life to help others, Satan comes on strong to accuse me. If today you feel like the enemy is accusing you and condemning you, come close to Christ, and cast all your cares on Him. It is a good day to repent (change your mind about your direction in life) and confess and forsake any sin to God, and the Holy Spirit will come with His power to help you overcome. Keith Thomas
[1] Billy Graham, The Holy Spirit, published by W Publishing Group, a division of Thomas Nelson Inc. Page 154.